Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-15
EATHER REPORT.
Indications for the Next "a sIonss.
MAINE DISPATCHES.
McFARLAND'S TRIAL,
The Testimony Closed-Mr. Hutch ms,
Counsel for the Prisoner, Makes an
Able Argument.

MACHIAs, Jan. IA.
In the Mcfarland trial today the defense
closed the examination Of witnesses this
afternoon and Mr.. Hutchngs is now making
his argument. The government will com
mence argument tomorrow morning, the trial
closing at noon. The defense was ably con-
Quoted. Public opinion is pretty evenly
divided as to the result.
After Judge DuIton's opening for the de-
fense, Mason II. Wilder, trial justice, be-
fore whom Mcfarland was examined when
arrested last November, testified as to issuing
| a warrant Tor the arrest OF unknown persons,
then at large, for the murder of Niles and
Hill. The warrant placed in the officers
hands pointed to two men who murdered the
wardens at Fletcher's brook, afterwards
shown to be Graves and Mcfarland.
James Mcfarland testified: For two
weeks previous to leaving home they had
talked ,ver the trip; had known Graves for a
long time; live two miles apart. Graves
wanted to take the dog. Mcfarland didn't.
Graves prevailed and took the dog to scare
! up pdTtf lu5eS WIN. w ltll nOuue
morning and reached Fletcher brook about 3
o'clock Saturday afternoon. The entire dis
tance by road from home is about 80 miles.
We hunted some Sunday. Raymond Wilson
and his father came to the camp Saturday
evening and staid TIL Monday morning; went
hunting Monday afternoon; got back to the
house about II o'clock. About noon the Nc
Reavey hey came. The boy said Niles and
Hill, the game wardens, are coming. Niles
came about l p. NJ. Hill ten minutes after
Niles. Hill said see you have dog. does
he kill deerl Graves said no. A discussion
of the game law and the use of dogs ensued.
Mcfarland said Monday afternoon we will
go somewhere else, it will be unpleasant to
keep up this discussion. Niles said we must
have your dog The dog had been fastened
in the house. Mcfarland took the dog in
the wagon and held him between his knees.
Niles approached at the same time. taking off
his coat. Graves said he is my dog and
don't YOU touch him. Graves stood at the
right OF the wagon and back of me. | heard
the report of gun and saw Niles fall dead
in an instant. Hill also fell. | didn't see
Graves shoot. Graves and Mcfarland har
messed the horse and drove off together. No
person was present at the shooting
except the McReavey boy. Half an hour
after the firing | saw man coming,
father of the boy. Graves said, This is a
hard looking sight" McReavy said, What
| is u?" Graves said, "rhese men here; they
are deer wardens; | had to kill them or
they would have killed me-" McReavy said,
"YVu 20 to your homes; | will take care OF
/ the bodies" We drove to Aurora, 26 miles
| from Ellsworth; thence to within four and a
| half miles OF the city and left the team at
| Fletchers early Tuesday morning. McFar-
lands gun was not loaded while at Fletcher
Brook house. | kept quiet till Saturday ;
called at one farm house Wednesday; wanted
to disclose to Sheriff Fields and did so; the
reason did not go directly homs was that l
feared arrest
Graves said before parted that he should
give himself up to the sheriff in five days. l
was near my house, in thick growth of
small trees. | went home Sunday evening
and | never have seen or heard from Graves
since the morning we parted; never aided
him in anv way.
all OF tomorrow.